Race and the New York State Constitutional Convention of 1821: Debating Civil Rights

Program category:

History
Multicultural- Other

Program length:

60 minutes

Audience level:

All ages

Audience size:

Program description:

In 1821, meetings took place in Albany, New York to revise the state's constitution. In the course of the meetings, numerous surprisingly frank and open discussions were carried on that related to feelings about race, at a time when some blacks in the state were still enslaved. The question was: should blacks be allowed to vote on the same footing as whites? The discussions were tinged with both fear and a spirit of egalitarianism. Some were afraid of the political power blacks might be able to exercise, while others felt that allowing all blacks to vote would make up for what the race had suffered under slavery. In the end, the egalitarians lost, and the new constitution allowed white males to vote who did not own property (removing an existing restriction), but added language that effectively disenfranchised most blacks. Blacks who did not own property were not able to vote in New York until after the Civil War.

Space/special requirements:

Travel restrictions:

Program fee:

Up to $100

Is this fee negotiable?

Yes

Mileage included?

No

If no, cost per mile:

$0.50

Notes about the fee:

Travel expenses to be worked out for venues outside NYS Capital District